Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
PM Vishwakarma scheme is set to elevate the skills of our craftsmen : Union Minister Sh. Nitin Gadkari
State level launch events of PM Vishwakarma Scheme organized in 5 locations in Maharashtra
17th September 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM Vishwakarma Scheme for traditional artisans and craftspeople on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti today. During the launch, he released PM Vishwakarma logo, tagline, portal a customized stamp sheet, a tool kit e-booklet and a video. The Prime Minister also distributed Vishwakarma Certificates to 18 beneficiaries. In Maharashtra, state level functions were held at 5 locations. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri. Nitin Gadkari and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri. Devendra Fadnavis were Chief Guests at the event in Nagpur. Similar events were also organized in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik & Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where Union Minister of State for Railways, Coal and Mines Shri. Raosaheb Danve Patil , Maharashtra Minister for Higher and Technical Education Shri. Chandrakant Dada Patil , Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pawar  and Union Minister of Sate for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Karad  were Chief Guests.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Shri. Nitin Gadkari, speaking at Nagpur, compared the 12 Balutedars to Lord Vishwakarma, highlighting their role in preserving traditional skills. He hailed the PM Vishwakarma Scheme and noted that it is set to elevate the skills of our craftsmen. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stressed the need to blend traditional skills with new technology, which will not only preserve these skills but also create new opportunities and boost exports. The Minister mentioned the importance of the textile industry and the potential of bamboo in Vidarbha's economy. He called for the establishment of a skill college in Vidarbha to further empower the region.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shri. Devendra Fadnavis observed that traditional craftsmen played a major role in India’s economy in the ancient period. With PM Vishwakarma scheme these craftsmen are again being brought into the mainstream as an important part of the country's economy, he said. He further stated that the Union Government’s skill development initiatives would improve skills and raise the standard of living of the country’s craftsmen.
Union Minister of State Shri. Raosaheb Danve Patil, who was the chief guest at the Mumbai event, underlined the importance of preserving India's unique traditional arts and crafts. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday is being celebrated as Seva Week, under which the Vishwakarma Scheme is being launched today. The Minister also emphasized that the PM Vishwakarma Scheme would provide capital support to artisans, promoting Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
At Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dr. Bhagwat Karad, Union Minister of State for Finance and Shri. Sudhir Mungantiwar, Maharashtra Minister of Forests were among the dignitaries presiding over the event. The dignitaries offered garlands to a statue of Lord Vishwakarma at the event. In his speech the Minister explained how eligible beneficiaries would get loans up to Rs 3 lakh through the banking system.
In Pune, Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Shri. Chandrakant Patil expressed his belief that the scheme will preserve the traditional skills of artisans across the country. He estimated that about 30 lakh artisans in over 165 types of handicrafts are set to benefit from this initiative. Pune MLA Ms. Madhuri Misal and MLA Shri. Bhimrao Tapkir also emphasized the importance of this scheme in nurturing traditional artisans during the event.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pawar, while addressing the event at Nashik stated that the scheme would target 18 traditional businesses in the first phase. She noted that the scheme aims to promote and protect the country’s rich heritage of traditional handicrafts. MLA Devayani Farande was also present on the occasion.
The PM Vishwakarma scheme, under the Union Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises is fully funded by the Union Government with an outlay of Rs 13,000 crore. It aims to preserve and promote traditional skills, empower artisans, and contribute to the conservation of India's rich heritage and culture.
PM Vishwakarma will provide artisans with various benefits, including free registration, recognition through certificates and ID cards, skill upgradation, toolkit incentives, collateral-free credit support, concessional interest rates, and incentives for digital transactions and marketing support. The scheme is expected to strengthen the Guru-Shishya parampara  of traditional skills, enhance the quality of artisanal products, and integrate artisans into domestic and global value chains. This launch events in Maharashtra was organized in collaboration with NHAI .
Full text of PM's speech